The Treaty of Nice is an agreement that follows the treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam. It was signed on February 26, 2001, before entering into force on February 1, 2003. Its main objective is to engage in the institutional reforms necessary for the enlargement of the European Union. This latter project aims to welcome other Member States: the CEECs, or Central and Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, Poland, or the Czech Republic.
The establishment of the Treaty of Nice thus aims to adapt the operating principles of the EU by considering new participants. This is notably due to the evolution of the voting rules of the European Council for the distribution of votes by country and the calculation of the majority. One can also mention the consolidation of the powers of the European Commission, as well as the streamlining of judicial procedures and enhanced cooperation between Member States.
What Was the Context in Which the Treaty of Nice Was Signed in 2001?
For reference, the European Union is a political and economic grouping of states, some of whose competencies are governed by community institutions, such as the Parliament or the European Council. Signed in 2001, the Nice Treaty succeeded two other treaties concerning the organization of the European Union: the Maastricht Treaty and the Amsterdam Treaty.
Adopted respectively in 1992 and 1997, these agreements aimed to evolve the institutions and previous treaties on European communities and member states. Among other developments, one can mention better judicial collaboration from a criminal perspective, cooperation in development, economic and social cohesion, and security policy.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the Nice Treaty aims to adapt the functioning of European institutions in anticipation of the imminent entry of Central and Eastern European countries into the Union. This acronym refers to countries in Central and Eastern Europe such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Poland. Indeed, the European Union plans to increase the number of its member states.
Eventually, it would rise to 28. Therefore, it is necessary to revise certain structural, institutional, and organizational elements. Thus, the Nice Treaty modifies the distribution of votes in the European Council. To obtain the so-called “qualified majority,” a new method of calculation is also adopted.
When Exactly Was the Treaty of Nice Signed?
The Member States of the European Union signed the Treaty of Nice on February 26, 2001. At that time, there were 15 member states. As its name suggests, the ratification took place in the eponymous city, in the south of France. In June of the same year, Ireland held a referendum to seek the opinion of its citizens. 54% of people rejected it. A new referendum was organized the following year.
Significant efforts were made to obtain a “yes” vote; otherwise, the Treaty of Nice would be blocked. The Irish eventually accepted the European agreement, with 62% in favor. The Treaty of Nice came into force on February 1, 2003.
During the year 2004, a pre-treaty period was observed. This period prepared for and gradually deployed the institutional reforms that were adopted. During the transitional period from May to October 2004, adjustments mainly focused on the distribution of national votes in the European Council as well as the calculation of the qualified majority. It is important to note that the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on December 18, 2007, and set to go into effect on December 1, 2009, replaced the Treaty of Nice.
What Is The Purpose Of The Treaty Of Nice?
The Treaty of Nice initiated several institutional reforms aimed at expanding the number of European Union member states. The initial modifications concern the change in voting rules during the meetings of the European Union Council. This relates to the distribution of votes per country and a new method of calculation to achieve a qualified majority (which is a majority greater than that of an absolute majority: 62 votes out of 87). Similar to the weighted voting system, the idea is to offer smaller countries equal importance to other member states.
Within the framework of a Europe of 27, the number of members of the European Parliament is 732, no longer 700. This community institution can now use the co-decision procedure for combating discrimination and granting visas and asylum applications. As for the European Commission, there is now one commissioner per country. Their appointment is subject to a vote by a qualified majority and equal rotation. The President of the Commission sees his powers strengthened. He can notably demand the resignation of commissioners.
In parallel with the creation of new institutional procedures, other significant developments are observed. The Treaty of Nice relaxes the rules of enhanced cooperation among member states. Moreover, it reduces the judgment deadlines specific to the Court of Justice. The latter sees its competencies reorganized and shared with the Court of First Instance. In the absence of a European constitution, the Treaty of Nice governs the institutional functioning of the European Union.
Which Countries Signed the Treaty of Nice?
The 15 member states are the signatories of the Treaty of Nice. Unless otherwise stated, the representative of the states concerned is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The list is as follows (country followed by signatory):
- Germany: Joschka Fischer (also Vice-Chancellor),
- Austria: Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
- Belgium: Louis Michel (also Deputy Prime Minister),
- Denmark: Mogens Lykketoft,
- Spain: Josep Piqué,
- Finland: Erkki Tuomioja,
- France: Hubert Védrine,
- Greece: Giórgos Papandréou,
- Ireland: Brian Cowen,
- Italy: Lamberto Dini,
- Luxembourg: Lydie Polfer (also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Trade),
- Netherlands: Jozias van Aartsen,
- Portugal: Jaime Gama,
- United Kingdom: Robin Cook (also Commonwealth Minister),
Which 10 Countries Will Join the EU in 2004?
The Treaty of Nice was established to adapt the institutional functioning of the European Union to accommodate new member states. After the integration of Austria, Sweden, and Finland in 1995, no other country joined the European Union for just under ten years. In 2004, the EU enlargement concerned around ten new member states. These are identified as “CEEC,” or countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Here is the list of new member countries of the European Union starting in 2004:
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Poland
- the Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Following that, the European Union welcomed Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, then Croatia in 2013. One can also mention certain countries that have applied for membership in the European Union. This includes Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Ukraine, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How Did The Lisbon Treaty Extend The Treaty of Nice In 2009?
The Treaty of Nice builds upon the continuity of previous texts signed. It initiated the evolution of the Treaties of Rome and Maastricht. Due to the reforms adopted, it is referred to as a “transformation of the institutional architecture” of the European Union. Without denying or abandoning the old measures, there is an adaptation of directives to new constraints, such as the inclusion of new Member States.
As for the Treaty of Lisbon, it can be considered an extension of its predecessor. It was signed in 2007 and entered into force at the end of 2009, originating new reforms. Among these, one can mention the creation of a legal personality for the European Union and the improvement of the decision-making process of the European Council, not to mention the drafting of a Charter of Fundamental Rights. Similarly, the European Central Bank is now recognized as a community institution.